Bashara witness to get back computers

A female witness in the Bob Bashara murder case will receive back three computers confiscated by police as part of its investigation into his wife’s murder. The computers may show email exchanges between Bashara and the witness.

Wayne County Judge Timothy Kenney ordered Bashara’s lawyers to hand over the two desk-top and single laptop computers to Therese Giffin by 4 p.m. Friday. The defense plans to “mirror” the computers’ hard drives that may contain evidence in the case for a forensic examination, said defense attorney Mark Procida.

Wayne County prosecutors previously copied the hard drives after police took them in March through and investigative subpoena. Giffin, who resides out of state, filed a motion through Detroit-based attorney Domnick Sorise. Giffin did not attend the hearing in Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit.

Attorneys would not reveal where Giffin resides.

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Procida said he suspects the computers contain email exchanges between Bashara and Giffin.

It was unclear if Giffin is an Oregon woman who has been reported to have electronically communicated with Bashara at the time he was having an affair with local woman Rachel Gillette. Media reports indicated the Oregon woman traveled to Michigan to talk to law enforcement regarding the case. The investigation has encompassed six states in addition to Michigan.

The Oregon woman’s testimony could be used to help prosecutors show motive.

Bashara, 55, who is accused of arranging to have his wife, Jane, killed in their Grosse Pointe Park garage in January 2012, appeared at the hearing dressed in a prison outfit via video from the Oaks Correctional Facility in Manistee. He is serving a minimum 80-month term for trying to have key witness in the case, Joe Gentz, killed in June 2012 while Gentz was housed in a Wayne County Jail facility for the murder.

Procida said after the hearing he plans to ask 36th District Court Judge Kenneth King in Detroit to order Bashara moved to a Wayne County jail so attorneys can visit him more easily.

A pre-examination conference in the murder case is set for next month in front of King.

Gentz, 49, is serving 17 to 28 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder, saying he strangled Jane Bashara on Bashara’s bequest.

Bashara is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder as well as witness intimidation and obstruction of justice for his wife’s death and the investigation.